ARTICLE I

Scope of Agreement

SECTION 1. The execution of this Agreement on the part of the Employer, shall cover all employees of the Employer, represented by the Union at the time of certification of the National Labor Relations Board.

The operations covered by this Agreement shall constitute a single bargaining unit.

SECTION 2. Employees covered by this Agreement shall be construed to mean those employees working in classifications set forth in the Wage Schedule of this Agreement, or any supplement hereto (including the Agreements attached hereto as Supplements), or any other classifications mutually agreed on by the parties during the life of this Agreement.

The employees to whom this contract applies are all full-time and regular part-time production and distribution and commercial office (customer accounting) employees, including janitors, meter readers, and operations dispatchers, employed by the Employer at its Hartford, East Hartford, and Rocky Hill, Connecticut facilities, excluding general accounting division employees, sales department employees, executives, secretaries to executives and guards, professional employees and supervisors as defined in the National Labor Relations Act.

It is understood that supervisors will not perform any work that is assigned to employees covered by this Agreement except for the purpose of training, demonstration, safety education, or emergencies.

The Union will see to it that its members individually and collectively perform loyal and efficient work and service and use their influence and best efforts to protect the property of the Company and the Company's interest and cooperate with the Company and all its employees in promoting and advancing the welfare of the Company and its service at all times. The Company will cooperate with the Union in its efforts to promote harmony and efficiency. The Company and the Union agree to cooperate in implementing Company Conservation programs with the goal of encouraging customers to conserve energy.

SECTION 3. MANAGEMENT RIGHTS: The Direction of the employed personnel including the right to hire, to suspend, or discharge for proper cause, to transfer (employees to other employment covered by this Agreement), promote, or demote, and the right to relieve employees from duty because of lack of work, or for other legitimate reasons is vested exclusively in the Company, provided that this will not be used for the purpose of discrimination against any employee. In exercising these rights, the Company will act in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 4. Any employee member of the Union acting in any official capacity whatsoever shall not be discriminated against for his/her acts as such officer of the Union so long as such acts do not interfere with the conduct of the Employer's business, nor shall there be any discrimination against any employee because of his/her Union membership or activities.

SECTION 5. The Employer shall not discharge nor suspend any employee without just cause, but with respect to discharge or suspension, shall give at least one (1) reminder notice of the complaint against such employee to the employee in writing, and a copy of same to the Union, except that no reminder notice be given to any employee before he/she is suspended or discharged, if suspension or discharge is for just cause. The disciplinary steps as herein provided shall remain in effect as follows:

· oral reminder: nine (9) months;

· written reminders: twelve (12) months;

· decision-making leaves: (1 day unpaid), Two (2) years

Each disciplinary action step shall be removed from the employee's personnel file after the step has been removed for a period equal to three years. Discharge must be by proper written notice to the employee and the Union. Any employee may request an investigation as to his/her discharge or suspension. Should such investigation prove an injustice has been done to any employee, he/she shall be reinstated.

Appeal to the grievance procedure from discharge, suspension, or reminder notices must be taken within fifteen (15) days by written notice, and a decision reached within thirty (30) days from the date of discharge or suspension or warning notice.

SECTION 6. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

The Employer agrees to require any successor or assign to comply with the provisions of this Agreement for its remaining term without reduction of any of the wage rates, benefits, or working conditions contained herein. Upon agreement by the successor or assign to assume the obligations of this Agreement, the Employer shall have no further obligation hereunder to the Union or to the employees covered by this Agreement.

SECTION 7. The Employer agrees to grant the necessary and reasonable time off, without discrimination or loss of seniority rights but without pay, to any bargaining unit member designated by the Union to attend a labor convention or serve in any capacity on other official Union business. The Union agrees to provide a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours notice specifying the length of the time off. The Union agrees that, in making its request for time off for Union activities, due consideration shall be given to the number of members affected in order that there shall be no disruption of the Employer's operation due to lack of available employees. The Company agrees not to be arbitrary or capricious in denying any such request.

SECTION 8. Any Employee desiring a leave of absence from his/her employment shall secure written permission from both the Local Union and Employer. The maximum leave of absence shall be for thirty (30) days or such time as provided by law and may be extended for like periods. Permission for extension must be secured from both the Local Union and Employer. During the period of absence, the employee shall not engage in gainful employment. Failure to comply with this provision shall result in the complete loss of seniority rights for the employee(s) involved. Inability to work because of proven sickness or injury shall not result in the loss of seniority rights.

SECTION 9. Any member of the Union employed in any official capacity by the Union shall not lose his/her seniority with the Company. At any given time, no more than one employee of the Company may be permanently employed by the Union which represents CNG and TEN employees under this agreement, in an official capacity, locally or nationally. That employee shall, upon being relieved of their official position with the Union, if within a period not exceeding six (6) years from the date on which they leave the Company, be entitled to be reinstated in the position they held at the time of taking such official position with the Union or a comparable position, and shall be entitled to their full seniority rights as though they had been employed by the Company continuously.

Any employee who accepts an elective municipal or state office shall be granted an unpaid personal leave of absence for not more than two (2) consecutive terms of such office. Upon reapplication for his/her original position at the expiration of such term or terms of office, he/she shall be reinstated to his/her original or a similar position with equivalent pay and accumulated seniority, unless the employers' circumstances have so changed as to make it impossible or unreasonable to do so.

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